Within indigenous communities deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions, ownership of valuable assets such as land is almost always associated with men. However, an in-depth study challenges this reality and uncovers a different narrative behind the resilience of women in safeguarding their ancestral heritage.

The scientific article entitled “The Existence of Batak Toba Women’s Land in Patriarchal Culture, Indonesia,” published in the journal Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences, thoroughly explores this phenomenon. This collaborative research was conducted by an interdisciplinary team from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), consisting of Ria Manurung, Rizabuana Ismail, Robert Sibarani, and Hadriana Marhaeni Munthe.

As the lead author, Ria Manurung and her team employed an extensive qualitative approach by interviewing 180 Batak Toba women across six different regions in North Sumatra, including Samosir Regency, North Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, Dairi, Toba, and Central Tapanuli. The women who served as the primary informants were those managing pa'anga land (gifted land) to support their families through rice fields and agricultural farming.

Ria Manurung emphasized that the traditional reasons once used to prevent women from managing land—such as farmland being too remote, difficult terrain, or the assumption that women’s roles were limited to domestic responsibilities—are no longer relevant today. In the modern era, access to agricultural land has become much easier, and the division of family roles has gradually shifted toward greater equality.

Interestingly, the study found that despite the dominance of a patrilineal system, Batak Toba customary law actually contains internal mechanisms that function as a “safety valve” for women. This safety valve manifests through special inheritance systems from parents to daughters, the transfer of rights from husbands to wives, land distribution arrangements, and formal witnessing processes attended by the highest customary institution, Dalihan Na Tolu.

Culturally, land that has been formally granted to daughters in the presence of extended relatives (dongan tubu) holds a very strong customary legal status and cannot be reclaimed. Unfortunately, these noble customary values often collide with the realities of modern legal systems.

The research led by Ria Manurung also reveals the vulnerabilities faced by women. Although they are the primary managers of the land, their position is often weakened when confronted with state law. This occurs because their names as rightful owners are rarely listed on official land certificates issued by the government; most of these documents still bear the names of husbands or male heads of households.

This condition has been exacerbated by the increasing taxable sales value (NJOP) of land in the Lake Toba region due to the rapid expansion of tourism and agribusiness projects. The growing economic value of the land has encouraged certain parties, including male relatives, to seek justification through patriarchal norms to reclaim the land, resulting in intimidation, pressure, and even litigation conflicts in court.

Through this study, the USU research team emphasized the importance of increasing awareness among Batak Toba women regarding their customary rights. In addition, there is an urgent need to strengthen the role of customary institutions in reaffirming women’s positions as both legitimate managers and owners of land.

This research is not merely an academic record, but also an important reflection for policymakers to ensure that spatial development planning continues to respect local socio-cultural contexts while positioning women as key pillars in preserving family living spaces.